BEHIND THE SCENES
Auto-Trail (A-T) is one of our most dynamic motorhome constructors. Now it is possible to find out how its motorhomes are made by taking advantage of A-T’s latest initiative, which is to offer a series of factory tours. Numbers are limited and bookings will be made on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
Each tour takes about two hours and is fascinating (we’ve already been on one). Proposed dates for this year are 30 April, 21 May,
25 June, 16 July, 27 August,
24 September, 29 October and
19 December (all Fridays). Just telephone Auto-Trail (see info box) to ascertain availability. The company is situated at Europarc (signposted from the A180) just north of Grimsby, and plenty of on-road parking is available.
LIVING THE LIFE
‘Full-timing’ is the term for living
in a motorhome all year round. Practical Motorhome recently examined this in detail, and the resulting six-page article offered loads of advice to people who were thinking of full-timing, or spending their winters abroad.
However, I would just like to add another ‘tuppence worth’. Several of my friends now full-time without ever leaving Blighty. For one couple, this is because they have part-time jobs in the UK but still wish to be of ‘no fixed abode’. This lifestyle is getting easier, because every year there are more and more sites, both ‘commercial’ and ‘club’, offering either an extended season, or which are open all year.
Another couple go where it is colder – for a ‘white’ Christmas (Black Forest… Dolomites… northern Scotland…) and again in the summer, for activities. They prefer walking in the foothills of the Alps or canoeing down the Loire to sand, sea and sangria. Others maintain that northern Europe is more attractive. It certainly is less crowded than some of southern Europe’s hot spots.
One fellow motorcaravanner
is writing an historical book.
He uses the van to live in, and undertakes research all year round – he’s been doing it for ten years but publication is still not imminent! But that’s an advantage of ‘historical’ study: it’s never that urgent. Anyway, I think he enjoys digging around in archives, exercising his grey cells.
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND
It is often claimed that there are only six storylines for any fictional book or play, so there is bound to be a degree of familiarity. In a similar vein, there’s only so much that can be achieved with a medium-sized
panel-van motorcaravan conversion. Often, ideas that are thought to be new were actually tried out some time ago. I’m a huge fan of IH Motor Campers’ attention to detail, and on the rear-lounge Tio (pictured, above), the company has replaced the rear doors with a fabulously well-made one-piece panel. In fact, it is so good, it looks like the manufacturer’s original equipment. At a recent outdoor show I overheard a potential purchaser say that he didn’t know that Fiat made a Ducato without
rear doors.
However, the idea isn’t new. Also pictured (above, left), a decade ago, is an earlier interpretation by Forest Fach Campers on a VWLT. Not as elegant as IH’s offering, but the idea was there. Of course, Forest Fach wasn’t first,
either, as readers who have undertaken a DIY conversion are bound to tell us. Surely somebody must have been first, though?
A BIG THANK YOU…
Darrell Stubbs (club chairman) has just written to my partner (‘Management’) and me congratulating us on 25 years continuous membership of the Camping and Caravanning Club. He enclosed two delightful, enamel, 25-year badges which we shall wear with pride. His letter ends by thanking us both for our support. Well, we would like to thank the club for giving us 25 years of camaraderie, a lively mag, brill sites, inclusive DA meets and happy holiday rallies both at
home and abroad.
In fact, the badge tells only half the story. I’ve been a member
(not continuously) all my life, and though it’s hard to believe from my pic, I am over 25 years of age. In addition, my dad first joined as a cycle camper in 1928 or ’29, and remained a member until his death in the early 1980s. The war years and periods of unemployment required a tightening of the financial reins so that his membership wasn’t continuous, either, but it is still a long time
for any club to have to put up
with our tribe! Thanks to everybody involved with the club, but particularly to the unpaid
rally stewards.
NEAR MISS
This month’s ‘Near Miss’ is an Emerald: a jewel that sparkled at first, but then disappeared without trace. Manufactured in Ireland, the Emerald has a curvy GRP low-profile coachbuilt body, mated to an Iveco Daily chassis-cab. It was marketed as a coachbuilt with an A-class feel. Sat inside on one of the four captain’s chairs, I could go along with that.
The Emerald shown above was captured on film at the 1996 European and American Motorhome Show, where it attracted much interest. I liked it, but it was compromised by having only single-glazed glass windows.
HO-HUM HANDBOOKS
Last month, I brought you the results of the 2004 Caravan Writers’ Guild Handbook Awards (the Swift Group was the winner). However,
I would like to make a few comments on the standard
of entries.
The number of entries was pitiful. All the manufacturers, importers and concessionnaires were approached but only six bothered to send anything. Obviously the others were either ashamed of their efforts or couldn’t be bothered to enter a competition from which considerable (free) publicity resulted. Two manufacturers were unable to submit their handbooks as they were undergoing a major re-write. Funny… one of them was doing the same during last year’s competition. Must be slow typists!
It beggars belief that many handbooks do not even include basic information on payload, tyre pressures or how to make up the beds. The information
I require most frequently can be deduced from the most rudimentary wiring diagram. Guess what is conspicuous by its absence? Joking apart, the complete lack of a handbook – or the sheer inadequacy of some – is just plain insulting when you are paying a lot of money for a vehicle.
There were some bouquets, though. Romahome and Nu Venture Motorhomes, while fairly small manufacturers compared to some European conglomerates, made a first-class effort, and with a bit more development would have been potential winners. Auto-Sleepers (the runner-up) is also to be praised for making its comprehensive handbooks model-specific, so that you don’t have to wade through pages of text to find the two sentences that apply to your van.
A few years ago, the Swift Group brought out a video for first-time buyers of its touring caravans. I thought it excellent, informative and accessible. I hope the Group brings out a new version for motorhomes.
WHAT DO YOU KEEP IN YOUR DRAWERS?
Ooh, er, missus! If you go to as many shows and product launches as I, a certain amount of fatigue and cynicism sets in. Especially when an oven with a new door handle is described as a major research-led breakthrough that will transform your life!
However, some new products at this year’s NEC show really are worth a mention. For example, from those innovative folks at Waeco comes a drawer fridge that can be accessed from outside the van. This utilises the wasted space behind the motorhome side panels and can be fitted pretty much anywhere, within reason. Just think of the energy you’d save not having to get up from under the awning and go inside the van to get another
cold beer!
Interestingly, the 12/24v compressor can be mounted at the side of the unit, or at the rear. Mains adaptors are also available. Price will be around £480 (including VAT).
Another ‘new’ accessory will be featured in next month’s column.
Happy motorcaravanning!
Gentleman Jack Bancroft |
